The theatre, which opened in 1923, quickly became one of Broadway’s most popular music houses. Operetta dominated the early years, including Rudolf Friml’s biggest hit, “Rose-Marie” (1924), and Sigmund Romberg’s “The Desert Song” (1927). In the next four decades, the Imperial showcased many of the greatest musical comedies of all time starting with Cole Porter’s “Leave It to Me” (1938), in which Mary Martin made her Broadway debut singing “My Heart Belongs to Daddy.” Miss Martin returned to the Imperial stage in the title role of Kurt Weill’s “One Touch of Venus” (1943). Irving Berlin was an Imperial favorite, with “Annie Get Your Gun” (1946) and “Call Me Madam” (1948), both starring Ethel Merman. Harold Rome’s “Wish You Were Here” (1952) ran 598 performances, confounding critics who had panned it, and Cole Porter’s final Broadway show “Silk Stockings” opened in 1955. Frank Loesser’s “Most Happy Fella” followed in 1956. “Fiddler on the Roof” (1964) broke the record for long-running musicals with 3242 performances.

Although the outside of the Imperial cannot be said to be particularly distinguished, the inside is quite impressive. The long corridor from 45th Street is lined in red-brown and gray marbles. Variations in the wall paneling of the auditorium and a low, slightly curved ceiling, impart surprising intimacy to so large a music house. The shallow, fan-shaped seating in the orchestra also helps the theatre’s acoustics.